title: Walk Well: a randomised controlled trial of a walking intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities: study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Walking interventions have been shown to have a positive impact on physical activity (PA) levels, health and wellbeing for adult and older adult populations. There has been very little work carried out to explore the effectiveness of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities. This paper will provide details of the Walk Well intervention, designed for adults with intellectual disabilities, and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test its effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study will adopt a RCT design, with participants allocated to the walking intervention group or a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of three PA consultations (baseline, six weeks and 12 weeks) and an individualised 12 week walking programme.A range of measures will be completed by participants at baseline, post intervention (three months from baseline) and at follow up (three months post intervention and six months from baseline). All outcome measures will be collected by a researcher who will be blinded to the study groups. The primary outcome will be steps walked per day, measured using accelerometers. Secondary outcome measures will include time spent in PA per day (across various intensity levels), time spent in sedentary behaviour per day, quality of life, self-efficacy and anthropometric measures to monitor weight change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since there are currently no published RCTs of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities, this RCT will examine if a walking intervention can successfully increase PA, health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN50494254.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Craig.Melville@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melville
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stalker
authors.forename: Lynsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McConnachie
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mutrie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking